Throughout WWE’s 50+ year history, there have been countless superstars who have used finishing/signature moves in order to win matches and wow audiences across the globe. Some finishers build anticipation and take a few seconds to set up, while others can be executed in less than a second and performed at any moment. Although some finisher’s don’t always get the job done the first time around, there is no arguing that these maneuvers get the WWE Universe on their feet and adds drama two each and every match.
Every professional wrestling fan has a favorite superstar and finishing move, so, we’ll be taking a look at the top seven most devastating finishers in WWE today. Of course, everybody has a different opinion or preference, but with this list I have tried my very best to be as unbiased as possible.
Please keep in mind that this article isn’t listing the best or most popular finishing moves, but instead, the most devastating and realistic looking finishers on WWE TV today.
7. SISTER ABIGAIL: BRAY WYATT
http://youtu.be/9opYIQnlTKo
So vicious!
Fandango used it for a couple of weeks, but now Bray Wyatt is the only superstar on the WWE roster using a Swinging Revere STO, or, better known as Sister Abigail as a finishing maneuver. I’d imagine that the ever so gentle kiss on the head confuses and disorientates his opponents and just as they realize what’s going on…BAM! In the face, in the faacceee!
Slamming your opponents face into the mat has never looked so vicious.
6. BROGUE KICK: SHEAMUS
Thank you Dolph
Isn’t it great to see Sheamus back in the WWE? I know he could get pretty annoying before he suffered that injury, but his return has freshened things up a bit and judging from what I’ve seen, the Great White hasn’t missed a beat.
I feel that the Brogue Kick is an underrated finisher. Sure, it can be viewed as a simple kick to the face, but the force and power that the Irishman puts into it is undeniable. The only person we’ve seen kick out of the Brogue Kick is Big Show and, well, he’s a giant. It’s a beautiful sight, when Sheamus call for the kick, lines up in the corner and nails a squiggly legged Dolph Ziggler in the head.
5. NEUTRALIZER: ANTONIO CESARO
See ya later Khali
Let’s face it; Antonio Cesaro has an awesome move-set and an excellent signature and finishing maneuver. Cesaro can hit the Neutralizer on just about anybody, including 400lbs. monsters like Brodus Clay.
The Neutralizer looks extremely painful and I sometimes cringe whenever I see Cesaro perform the maneuver. This finisher is very similar to Triple H’s Pedigree, but looks a hell of a lot more devastating considering Cesaro is putting all of his weight onto his opponent’s back, crushing their face and belly into the mat with no remorse.
4. BUSAIKU KNEE: DANIEL BRYAN
Goodnight Cena
At SummerSlam 2013, Daniel Bryan debuted his Busaiku Knee finishing maneuver by hitting the running knee onto John Cena and winning his first WWE Championship. Ever since, the crowd anticipates that vital moment when Bryan points his fingers up in the air and when the YES chants start ringing, you know its game over.
The Busaiku Knee fits Daniel Bryan’s personality and move-set and it is a move that fans have rarely seen in the WWE. Aside from Triple H selling the finisher terribly at Hell in a Cell 2013, the running (sprinting, really) knee looks legitimately painful and extremely realistic, which is a rarity in today’s WWE.
3. RKO: RANDY ORTON
http://youtu.be/GXf4Xe2unpI
High stakes, high rewards
The magic behind the RKO is that Randy Orton can execute the move from virtually, cue Michael Cole, out of nowhere! There have been a lot of RKO’s performed by the Viper throughout his WWE career and every single one looks hellacious. Well, except for this one.
For the most part, Orton flawlessly jumps in the air towards his opponent, grabs their head in a three-quarter face lock while parallel to the ground and then slams their face into the mat. To me, the most vicious and brutal looking finishers involve injuring the head/face/neck area and that’s why you are seeing many of them on this list.
2 GTS: CM PUNK
http://youtu.be/RwmcWvNW338
Double GTS!
If I could sum up CM Punk’s GTS (Go to Sleep) in one word, that word would be beautiful. There is such elegance about the GTS and it’s very hard to describe into words how great it looks. It’s unique and the move was never done in the WWE before Punk was signed.
“Borrowed” from Kenta Kobayashi, the GTS is a Fireman’s Carry dropped into a knee lift where Punk’s knee viciously connects with his opponents head. The only problem I have with the maneuver is that Punk isn’t able to perform it on everybody and he has quite a bit of trouble performing the move on bigger superstars like Kane or The Undertaker. Regardless, the GTS is one of the best finishing moves in WWE today.
1. TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER: The Undertaker
R.I.P
The Tombstone Piledriver is arguably the greatest finishing move in professional wrestling history. Just like the Deadman’s entrance, time seems to stop when Taker is in position to execute the move. It is, without a doubt, in the “greatest of all time” category with the likes of the Stone Cold Steve Austin’s Stunner and Shawn Michaels’ Sweet Chin Music
A few years ago, the WWE banned chair shots to the head and Piledrivers. Both of those actions are extremely dangerous to perform and have caused severe injuries to unfortunate superstars. However, like The Undertaker, the Tombstone Piledriver is one of a kind and is a maneuver that we may never see again once the Phenom has retired.
Agree or disagree with my picks? Feel free to make like Tom and Cruise to the comments section. Let me know your thoughts on the most devastating finishing moves in WWE today.
